AT&T, T-Mobile propose spectrum swap

AT&T Mobility and T-Mobile US are proposing a swap of PCS and AWS spectrum across parts of ten states, Fierce Wireless reports, citing a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) filing. In some instances AT&T is divesting spectrum it acquired from Leap Wireless in March this year. AT&T has agreed to divest Leap spectrum in twelve markets, mostly in Texas, in order to win regulatory approval for the Leap deal. The swaps between AT&T and T-Mobile include spectrum in parts of California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington State.

Separately, AT&T has sought permission from the FCC to assign a 10MHz block of AWS C block spectrum in Washoe County, Nevada, to Commnet, a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Atlantic Tele-Network Inc (ATNI). AT&T has stressed that it is not exiting the market, merely assigning a portion of its spectrum to the smaller company.